Two Stage Plunger for Intraocular Lens Injector

ABSTRACT

A plunger ( 30 ) for an IOL injector device includes a shaft ( 37 ) with a distal tip ( 32 ) and a compressible sleeve ( 40 ) positioned about the shaft with the tip extending forwardly of the sleeve. In a first stage of IOL ( 12 ) advancement through the injector device, the plunger tip engages and pushes the IOL through a first section ( 14   a ) of the injector body ( 14 ). In a second stage of IOL advancement, the sleeve enters the narrowing section ( 14   b ) of the injector body toward the open tip ( 18 ) thereof with the IOL and sleeve both undergoing compression. The sleeve compresses and lengthens in a forward direction ultimately enveloping the plunger distal tip. Viscoelastic applied inside the injector accumulates between the leading edge of the compressed sleeve and the compressed IOL thereby creating hydraulic pressure which pushes the compressed IOL through the remainder of the injector body and out the open distal tip thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ophthalmic surgical devices and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel plunger device and method for inserting an intraocular lens (hereinafter “IOL”) into an eye.

IOLs are artificial lenses used to replace the natural crystalline lens of the eye when the natural lens has cataracts or is otherwise diseased. IOLs are also sometimes implanted into an eye to correct refractive errors of the eye in which case the natural lens may remain in the eye together with the implanted IOL. The IOL may be placed in either the posterior chamber or anterior chamber of the eye. IOLs come in a variety of configurations and materials. Some common IOL styles include the so-called open-looped haptics which include the three-piece type having an optic and two haptics attached to and extending from the optic; the one-piece type wherein the optic and haptics are integrally formed (e.g., by machining the optic and haptics together from a single block of material); and also the closed looped haptic IOLs. Yet a further style of IOL is called the plate haptic type wherein the haptics are configured as a flat plate extending from opposite sides of the optic. The IOL may be made from a variety of materials or combination of materials such as PMMA, silicone, hydrogels and silicone hydrogels, etc.

Various instruments and methods for implanting the IOL in the eye are known. In one method, the surgeon simply uses surgical forceps having opposing blades which are used to grasp the IOL and insert it through the incision into the eye. While this method is still practiced today, more and more surgeons are using more sophisticated IOL injector devices which offer advantages such as affording the surgeon more control when inserting the IOL into the eye. IOL injector devices have recently been developed with reduced diameter insertion tips which allow for a much smaller incision to be made in the cornea than is possible using forceps alone. Smaller incision sizes (e.g., less than about 3 mm) are preferred over larger incisions (e.g., about 3.2 to 5+mm) since smaller incisions have been attributed to reduced post-surgical healing time and complications such as induced astigmatism.

Since IOLs are very small and delicate articles of manufacture, great care must be taken in their handling. In order for the IOL to fit through the smaller incisions, they need to be folded and/or compressed prior to entering the eye wherein they will assume their original unfolded/uncompressed shape. The IOL injector device must therefore be designed in such a way as to permit the easy passage of the compressed IOL through the device and into the eye, yet at the same time not damage the delicate IOL in any way. Should the IOL be damaged during delivery into the eye, the surgeon will most likely need to extract the damaged IOL from the eye and replace it with a new IOL, a highly undesirable surgical outcome.

IOL injector devices typically incorporate a plunger that telescopes within a tubular injector body. As the plunger is advanced within the injector body, the distal plunger tip pushes the IOL through the injector body with the IOL ultimately exiting the device at the narrow open tip of the injector device. The surgeon positions the narrow open tip into the incision made in the eye to express the IOL from the injector open tip into the eye. The plunger tip is therefore a critical design component of the injector device in that it creates the force necessary to advance the IOL through the injector device. In most, if not all, of the injector devices on the market today, the injector tip makes direct contact with the IOL. It will be appreciated that direct contact of the IOL with any injector components increases the risk of damage to the IOL. Damage to IOL during delivery is many times attributable to the plunger tip which may inadvertently scratch or tear the IOL as it engages and advances the IOL through the injector device. The chance of IOL damage is heightened during the latter part of the IOL advancement stage where it is being compressed and pushed through the narrowing inserter passage at the same time. This is because the force required to push the IOL through the inserter device necessarily increases as the IOL is being compressed through the ever-narrowing injector lumen. This latter stage of IOL advancement is therefore a critical stage where forces upon the IOL are at their greatest and the IOL is more susceptible to damage caused by those forces.

There therefore remains a need for an injector device which will advance and expel the IOL from the injector open tip and into the eye in a non-destructive and controlled manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved plunger device and method for inserting an IOL into an eye. In a first aspect of the invention, the plunger of the present invention includes a rigid shaft having a distal tip and a compressible sleeve positioned about the rigid shaft with the distal tip extending forwardly of the uncompressed sleeve. In a first stage of IOL advancement, the plunger distal tip safely engages an IOL positioned within the injector body and advances the IOL for a first distance within the injector body. Preferably, this first distance imparts no or only small compressive forces to the IOL or sleeve. In a second stage of IOL advancement, the compressible sleeve begins compressing about the plunger shaft due to the narrowing walls of the injector body extending toward the open tip thereof. The sleeve compresses and thereby lengthens in a direction toward the distal tip of the plunger shaft. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve deforms forwardly and ultimately completely envelops the distal tip of the plunger shaft. Lengthening of the sleeve in a rearward direction is preferably inhibited by a stop feature incorporated into the plunger and/or injector body. The optional but preferred presence of visco-elastic in the injector body is previously applied by the surgeon in an amount sufficient to create hydraulic pressure between the leading edge of the compressed sleeve and the IOL such that the IOL is advanced without direct contact of the optic with the compressed sleeve. As such, the chance of damage to the IOL is reduced, particularly during the critical stage of the IOL being compressed to its smallest diameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a, b and c are cross-sectional views of a first embodiment of the invention showing successive stages of plunger and IOL advancement (1 b and c being fragmented);

FIGS. 2 a and b are fragmented, cross-sectional views of a second embodiment of the invention in successive stages of plunger advancement; and

FIGS. 3 a and b are fragmented, cross-sectional views of a third embodiment of the invention in successive stages of plunger advancement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawing, there is seen in the various Figures an IOL injector device designated generally by the reference numeral 10. Injector device 10 is used to deliver an IOL 12 into an eye (not shown). The configuration of injector device 10 shown in the Figures is for purposes of description only, it being understood that the injector device 10 may be of any desired configuration such as those employing separate IOL cartridges and/or nozzle tips which are joined to the injector body at the time of surgery (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,102). Still other injector body types may be seen in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,944,725 and 6,336,932, for example. Injector 10 may furthermore be of the so-called “fully preloaded” or “partially pre-loaded” type wherein the IOL 12 is shipped loaded within the injector device 10, or in a component which is operable to transfer the IOL to the injector device without requiring direct handling of the IOL, respectively (see, e.g., commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/813,863 and PCT application number PCT/03/04686). Likewise, the configuration of IOL 12 is also for purposes of description only, it being understood that the IOL configuration and material may be of any desired shape and type, the only requirement being that it be foldable or otherwise compressible to fit through a small ocular incision. In the Figures, IOL 12 is of the looped haptic type having an optic 12 a with first and second haptics 12 b, 12 c extending from the optic periphery.

Injector device 10 is thus seen in Figure la to include a tubular body 14 having a longitudinal opening 16 extending between an open distal tip 18 and open proximal end 20. Body 14 includes a main section 14 a of substantially constant diameter which leads into a tapered section 14 b which in turn leads into a distal section 14 c terminating at open tip 18. As mentioned above, the configuration of the body 14 may vary from that described and shown herein including, but not limited to, the lengths and sizes of the section diameters leading to the open tip at which the IOL is expressed from the device 10. The diameter of the open tip 18 is preferably, although not necessarily, in the sub-3 mm range.

A finger ledge 22 is located adjacent body proximal end 20 to assist in manually operating device 10 in the manner of a syringe. In this regard, a plunger 30 is provided which telescopes through longitudinal opening 16 in body 14. Plunger 30 has an elongated, rigid shaft 37 with opposite distal and proximal ends 32, 34, respectively. A thumb press 36 is located adjacent proximal end 34 which is used in conjunction with finger ledge 22 to advance plunger 30 toward the distal open tip 18 of body 14 during operation of device 10. It is understood that the plunger may have any type of advancement mechanism, including, but not limited to, the so-called “screw-type” plunger where the plunger is threaded into the body and is advanced by the surgeon rotating the plunger proximal end.

In one aspect of the invention, a compressible sleeve 40 is provided on plunger shaft 37 adjacent distal tip 32 with distal tip 32 spaced and uncovered by the sleeve 40 (see FIGS. 1 a, 2 a and 3 a). Sleeve 40 is made from any suitable compressible material such as a silicone elastomer, for example. The outer diameter OD, of the uncompressed sleeve 40 is about equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter ID, of longitudinal opening 16 whereby sleeve 40, even when under compression, may slide together with plunger shaft 37 inside longitudinal opening 16. A flange 38 is provided on plunger shaft 37 rearwardly of distal tip 32. Flange 38 has an outer diameter that preferably is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter ID, of longitudinal opening 16 such that flange 38 is freely slidable together with shaft 37 therein. The proximal end 42 of sleeve 40 abuts flange 38 which acts as a stop to prevent sleeve 40 from slipping or lengthening on shaft 37 in a rearward direction toward proximal end 34. In this regard, it is noted that sleeve 40 may be loosely fitted to shaft 37. Alternatively, at least a portion of the core of sleeve 40 may be fixed to shaft 37 by any desired means, e.g., adhesively, thermally, chemically, overmoulding, etc. In this situation it is possible, therefore, that instead of flange 38 being directly connected to or integral with shaft 37, flange 38 is fixed to sleeve end 42. With the sleeve 40 fixed to shaft 37 as described above, a flange 38 attached to sleeve proximal end 42 would still act to prevent rearward sliding or compressive movement of sleeve 40 on shaft 37. The term “sliding movement” means the entire sleeve 40 is sliding on shaft 37 whereas the term “compressive movement” means the sleeve core remains stationary on shaft 37 but the outer parts of the sleeve lengthen (and hence moves in a longitudinal direction on shaft 37) as a result of being compressed to a smaller diameter.

At the time of surgery, the device 10 is readied with IOL 12 properly located therein and the plunger 30 in its retracted position. The initial location and orientation of IOL 12 may of course vary according to the configuration of the device body 14 being used as described above. When the plunger 30 is in its initial retracted position, the distal tip 32 thereof is spaced rearwardly of IOL 12. To express IOL 12 from device 10, the surgeon presses upon thumb press 36 which causes the plunger shaft distal tip 32 to approach and then engage IOL optic 12 a at the periphery thereof (see FIG. 1 a). In this regard, it is noted the plunger distal tip 32 may be of any desired configuration, a bifurcated tip being shown in the Figures where the optic periphery becomes located between the prongs of the bifurcated tip (see FIG. 1 a). The trailing haptic 12 c becomes located rearwardly of the plunger tip so that it does not become entangled or otherwise damaged by the advancing plunger. In this regard, plunger 30 may incorporate a haptic relief (not shown) adjacent distal tip 32 thereof. Such a haptic relief is taught, for example, in commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 10/813,862. In the case of an IOL having plate haptics, the plunger distal tip may engage the outer edge of the trailing haptic as seen commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,932.

Upon continued pressing of thumb press 36, plunger distal tip 32 pushes the IOL 12 toward device open tip 18 with IOL 12 compressing as it travels through the narrowing body sections 14 b and 14 c. As sleeve 40 enters tapered section 14 b, it undergoes successive compression by the gradual narrowing of the inner diameter of the longitudinal opening 16 along tapered body section 14 b (see FIGS. 1 b, 2 b and 3 b). As sleeve 40 compresses, it simultaneously deforms in a forward (distal) direction, lengthening in the process. As explained above, rearward movement of sleeve 40 with respect to shaft 37 is prevented by flange 38. As seen in FIG. 1 b, this forward compressive movement of sleeve 40 eventually at least partially envelops the plunger shaft distal tip 32. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve completely envelops tip 32 and extends forwardly thereof for a distance of between about 1 mm to about 15 mm, and more preferably between about 3 mm and 10 mm, and most preferably about 8 mm.

As is well known by those skilled in the art, a surgeon will typically apply a quantity of visco-elastic into the injector body 14 prior to advancing the IOL therethrough. As seen in FIG. 1 b, the visco-elastic 50 is applied and becomes concentrated between the IOL 12 and the compressed sleeve leading edge 45. Since the area is effectively sealed between IOL 12 and compressed sleeve leading edge 45 at this point in the plunger advancement, the visco-elastic 50 creates hydraulic pressure which continues the push against IOL 12. Thus, as the surgeon continues to press upon thumb press 36, the visco-elastic 50 will push IOL 12 forwardly toward open tip 18. Seeing that the leading edge of the sleeve is soft, there is less likely damage to the IOL than if the IOL were contacted by the plunger distal tip through the second stage of IOL advancement (i.e., when the IOL is undergoing compression). As seen in FIGS. 1 b and 1 c, upon continued pressing of thumb press 36, the IOL 12 is eventually expressed out of open tip 18 whereupon it resumes its original shape.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention seen in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, distal tip 132 is separate from the remaining plunger shaft 137. Prior to plunger advancement, distal tip 132 is located within the forward part of sleeve core 141 with the tip extending outwardly therefrom as seen in FIG. 2 a. The shaft distal portion 137 a is located within the proximal portion of sleeve core 141 and, together with tip 132, define a space 141 a therebetween. Distal tip 132 is loosely inserted into sleeve 140 such that tip 132 will be pushed rearwardly into space 141 a upon advancement of plunger 130 and compression of sleeve 140. This embodiment therefore ensures the tip 132 will eventually become completely enveloped by sleeve 140 as seen in FIG. 2 b. The compression of sleeve 140 and advancement of IOL 12 through and out device 10 otherwise proceeds in the same manner as in the embodiment of Figs. la-c as described above.

In still a further embodiment seen in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, the plunger tip 232 is separate from the remainder of shaft 237 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 a and 2 b. However, in this embodiment, a bore 241 b is formed in the shaft distal end 237 a and plunger tip 232 is inserted into bore 241 b. A space 241 a is formed between the proximal end of the plunger tip 232 and the proximal end 237 b of bore 241 b wherein a spring 260 may be positioned. As the tip 232 is forced rearwardly into bore 241 b upon advancement of plunger 230 and compression of sleeve 240, spring 260 compresses and provides a biasing force which may be used to more precisely control the movement of the tip 232 with respect to the shaft 237 and sleeve 240. The compression of sleeve 240 and advancement of IOL 12 through and out device 10 otherwise proceeds in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 a-c as described above. 

1. A plunger for advancing an IOL through an IOL injection device in at least first and second IOL advancement stages, said plunger comprising: a) a shaft having a proximal end and distal tip and configured to be slidingly received in the IOL injection device, said distal tip configured for engaging and pushing said IOL through said injection device during said first IOL advancement stage; and b) a compressible sleeve having proximal and distal ends and mounted on said shaft adjacent said shaft distal tip, said sleeve being configured and arranged such that, during said first IOL advancement stage, said shaft distal tip is at least partially uncovered by said sleeve so as to be able to engage the IOL, said sleeve configured and arranged such that said sleeve can be compressed and at least partially envelop said shaft distal tip during said second IOL advancement stage.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The plunger of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is made of a silicone elastomer.
 4. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the IOL includes an optic and said shaft distal tip comprises a bifurcated tip having prongs configured to engage said optic of said IOL therebetween.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The plunger of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has a core which is fixed to said shaft.
 7. The plunger of claim 6, further comprising a rigid flange attached to said proximal end of said sleeve, said flange acting as a stop to prevent rearward movement of said sleeve toward said shaft proximal end.
 8. The plunger of claim 1, further comprising a rigid flange attached to said shaft adjacent said sleeve proximal end, said flange acting as a stop to prevent movement of said sleeve toward said shaft proximal end.
 9. An injector device for injecting an IOL into an eye, said injector device comprising: a) a device body having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal opening therebetween, said distal end comprising an open tip for delivering said IOL from said injector device into an eye; b) a plunger for sliding movement through first and second stages of advancement in said longitudinal opening, said second stage of advancement occurring within at least a portion of a narrowing section of said longitudinal opening, said plunger comprising: i) a rigid shaft having a proximal end and a distal tip; and ii) a compressible sleeve having proximal and distal ends, said sleeve placed on said shaft adjacent said distal tip thereof, said device body and said sleeve configured such that, during the first stage of advancement said sleeve is in an uncompressed condition and arranged such that said distal tip extends forwardly of said sleeve, and said distal tip is configured and arranged to engage and push said IOL.
 10. The injector device of claim 9, wherein said sleeve and said device body are configured such that said sleeve undergoes compression and at least partially envelops said shaft distal tip during said second stage of IOL advancement and ultimate expression of said IOL from said body distal end.
 11. The injector device of claim 10 wherein, said sleeve and said device body are configured such that compression of said sleeve occurs in said narrowing section of said longitudinal opening.
 12. The inspector device of claim 11, further comprising a rigid flange attached to said shaft adjacent said sleeve proximal end, said flange acting as a stop to prevent movement of said sleeve toward said shaft proximal end.
 13. A method of preparing a device for surgery, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a device body having a proximal end and a distal open tip and a longitudinal opening extending therebetween, said longitudinal opening having a narrowing section adjacent said distal open tip of said body; b) providing a plunger for sliding movement through first and second stages of advancement in said longitudinal opening, said second stage of advancement occurring within at least a portion of said narrowing section of said longitudinal opening, said plunger comprising: i) a rigid shaft having a proximal end and a distal tip; and ii) a compressible sleeve placed on said shaft adjacent said distal tip thereof, said distal tip extending forwardly of and uncovered by said sleeve when in an uncompressed condition, c) advancing said plunger in said longitudinal opening through said first stage of advancement with said shaft distal tip engaging and pushing an IOL through said first stage of advancement; and d) further advancing said plunger through said second stage of advancement with said sleeve undergoing compression and lengthening in a forward direction and thereby at least partially enveloping said shaft distal tip.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of applying a viscoelastic between said plunger distal tip and said IOL in a quantity sufficient to create hydraulic pressure between said sleeve and said IOL during said second advancement stage.
 15. A plunger for an IOL injector device, said plunger having a rigid shaft with a distal tip and a compressible sleeve attached to said shaft with said distal tip extending outwardly of and uncovered by said sleeve the sleeve being compressible such that the sleeve can lengthen and at least partially envelope said shaft distal tip.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The injector device of claim 10, wherein said injector device includes a viscoelastic applied in said longitudinal opening, said plunger, said device body and said viscoelastic adapted to be able to create hydraulic pressure between said compressed sleeve and said IOL during said second stage of advancement. 